That’s sad. My friend had an adorable ferret that lived a long life in her care, and it used to curl up on my lap and take naps. I also have fond memories of going for walks with my daughter, when she was still a wee thing in a baby carrier, and stopping in at the old Petco to visit the ferrets they had. She’d have “conversations” with them, breaking into giggles any time any of them pressed their noses against the glass or rolled onto their backs.
I wish I had been out there to see it and attempt (though I’m sure unsuccessfully) to wrangle it. She said it was just a bitty thing, and was running up under the wheel wells of cars, in and out of yards, and bounding down the street. :(